Oprah Begs Americans to Vote For Hillary: ‘You Don’t Have to Like Her!’

There was a time when talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey was one of the most influential women in America.

Whether it was picking up tips for managing money, exploring spirituality, reading the books she suggested or opening up about sexual abuse, her syndicated talk show dominated day-time television from 1986 to 2011 creating a connection between the host and her loyal viewers.

Winfrey, whose media empire was headquartered in Chicago, endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in 2006, prior to his announcement for the presidency, and her campaign appearances for him were estimated to have won over a million votes for the then relatively unknown newcomer on the national stage.

The media queen’s influence on her fans and followers did not translate to Washington after Obama was elected, and after the end of her television show and reduced visibility, the “Oprah effect” has been somewhat diminished, but she was sought out for her thoughts and endorsement in the upcoming presidential election, anyway.

While acknowledging that she has been “largely silent” during this election season, Winfrey said she didn’t know what she could say to sway voters, primarily women.

What she did have to say can hardly be calling inspiring or an unqualified and full-throated endorsement of the candidate who is running to become the first woman president of the United States.

In short – you don’t have to like Hillary to vote for her.

It is, to Winfrey’s mind, enough that she is not Donald Trump.

In an hour-long interview with Dallas-based pastor T.D. Jakes, the multi-millionaire admitted, “…there really is no choice, people. I hear this all the time. You get into conversations — and there’s not a person in this room who hasn’t been in this same conversation — where people say, ‘I just don’t know if I like her.’”

Harkening back to the 2008 primaries when voters opted for the more affable candidate, Obama, forcing him to say in a debate, “You're likable enough, Hillary,” Winfrey says likability doesn’t matter this time around.